Camden’s £1m Resilience Fund supports voluntary sector organisations in the face of the cost-of-living crisis
Camden Council is supporting the borough’s voluntary sector to address immediate risks and bolster their long-term sustainability.
The Council is committed to supporting voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations through the cost-of-living crisis and to helping them adapt and develop sustainable operational models, so they can continue their vital work to support Camden’s communities.
The Covid-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis have seen VCS organisations face increasing demands for their services, at a time when rising costs and an increasingly challenging funding context are affecting their sustainability.
Camden’s VCS organisations were able to apply for grants of up to £30,000 from the Council’s £1million resilience fund. 34 organisations have been allocated grants immediately and the Council will be working with a further nine organisations to support their plans for organisational resilience.
In addition to this, in February 2023, Camden Council made a clear financial commitment to the borough’s voluntary and community sector by agreeing to continue investing £4m per year in grant programmes from April 2024 to March 2031.
These funding programmes will ensure that Camden’s voluntary sector can continue to play a critical role in delivering our shared ambitions for the borough.
These continue to be very challenging times for our residents, and our borough’s Voluntary and Community Sector colleagues are key partners in helping us deliver essential support for those most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis.
We are supporting these organisations to overcome the cost-of-living financial pressures they may be facing and ensure they are on the best possible footing to be financially resilient and independent in the future.
For some, this may mean an initial investment to examine their business model, put new technology in place or recruit a specialist to help with their operations.
£1m of funding was made available to Camden’s VCS organisations who were able to apply for grants of up to £30,000 or up to a value of 10% of an organisation’s income, whichever was the lower.
The Pirate Castle said:
“The Pirate Castle, Camden’s iconic community boating charity, has been flying the flag for opportunity, learning and adventure on the Regent’s Canal since 1966.
“Over 4,000 Camden residents benefit from its paddle sport, canal boating, training, and volunteer initiatives each year.
“By helping to cover running, staff and website redevelopment costs this year, Camden’s Community Impacts Resilience funding will provide much-needed support as the Charity develops new strategies to navigate rising costs, broaden its reach and maximise community impact.”
Voluntary Action Camden said:
“Voluntary Action Camden is proud to be a part of the rich tapestry of voluntary, community organisations in the borough.
“During the toughest times of the last few years, we have been standing shoulder to shoulder with the sector and our members, highlighting their collective experience, and celebrating their ingenuity and resolve.
“But like many of our VCSE sector members the last few years has left us enervated and with depleted reserves. The Resilience Fund is a welcomed form of additional support. It provides an opportunity for us to review and reshape our strategy and business model to achieve longer-term financial security and sustainability.”
Further funding made available to Camden’s VCS organisations has included:
- £300,000 Community Response Fund - Assisting organisations to mobilise at a local ward level to enhance their support available to residents to deal with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis throughout the winter period.
- £200,000 Generalist Advice Fund - Increasing the capacity of the Camden Advice Network (CAN) to provide advice through community-based outreach.
- £150,000 Covid-19 Food Insecurity Fund - Supporting food network organisations who are meeting the increasing needs of residents and to address health inequalities and needs that have risen sharply since the start of the pandemic.
Further details on the VCS Resilience Fund, as well as the other support available to VCS organisations is available on the council’s website.
The Council is also providing payments of up to £500 to help residents in severe financial hardship and unable to pay for essentials – including food or energy bills – through its cost-of-living crisis fund.
A range of help and support with the rising cost of living – including accessing the council’s Cost of Living Crisis Fund - is available at www.camden.gov.uk/costofliving , by calling the council on 020 7974 4444 (option 9), by calling Citizens Advice Camden on 0808 278 7835 or by contacting one of the organisations in Camden Advice Network.
Find their details at: www.camden.gov.uk/can
A range of support is available with money, debt, rising energy bills, mental health, domestic abuse and violence, accessing Government grants and more.
You can read more information on the second round of applications to the council’s Resilience Fund online.